Dhow Wharfage

Steeped in history and stretching gloriously along the Creek bank north of Maktoum Bridge, with dhows and abras galore

Dhow Wharfage

Area: Creek, Dubai

The Dubai Dhow Wharfage area is just fabulous and offers sightseeing of a very different kind, with a real sense of adventure. Steeped in history and stretching gloriously along the Creek bank north of Maktoum Bridge are countless creaking wooden dhows, moored in time-honoured tradition to load and unload their diverse cargoes from all over the region.

There is ordered chaos on the banks, with pallet after pallet bearing goods and foodstuffs of every kind, all checking in or out of Dubai en route to their final destination. Bursting with colour, activity and character, the Dhow Wharfage area is home to a way of life that has remained intact since Dubai’s earliest days.

It feels haphazard at first, but the easy ebb and flow of activity down here is born of age-old custom. It is worth visiting on foot, as the friendly sailors are usually happy to invite you on board for cups of sweet tea and a tour of their dhows. There are plenty of great photo opportunities at the Dhow Wharfage area too, and even more if you venture onto a traditional abra or one of the Creek ferries.